Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Reports Positive Data From Its Largest Transcatheter Valve Implant Series

BARCELONA, SPAIN--(Marketwire - May 20, 2009) - Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the world leader in the science of heart valves, today announced at EuroPCR 2009 the results from its first post-market study of consecutively enrolled Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter aortic valve patients. The data demonstrated the successful commercialization of the Edwards SAPIEN valve with high device success and low 30-day mortality.

The SOURCE serial registry reported results on 1,038 patients, or 100 percent of patients treated with the Edwards SAPIEN valve at 32 European commercial centers from November 2007 to January 2009. The data showed a 30-day survival rate of 93.7 percent in transfemoral procedures (valve delivered via the femoral artery), and 89.7 percent in transapical procedures (valve delivered via a small incision between the ribs) -- rates that were better than the predicted surgical survival in this high-risk patient cohort. Implant procedure safety with the Edwards SAPIEN valve was strongly demonstrated with low incidences of valve malposition (1.5 percent), coronary obstruction (0.6 percent), stroke (2.5 percent), conversion to surgery (2.7 percent), need for permanent pacemaker (7 percent), and significant aortic regurgitation (4.7 percent).

“SOURCE sets a new standard for the evaluation of the commercial experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a high-risk patient population. In order to preserve the integrity of the study data, each adverse event was individually reviewed by the study’s principal investigators. Additionally, to avoid patient selection bias, those centers unable to provide all data on all patients were excluded from the report,” said Martyn Thomas, M.D., director of cardiothoracic services, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, and a paid consultant to Edwards. “This approach provided the opportunity to accurately evaluate both the effectiveness of training and the commercial launch experience of the Edwards SAPIEN valve, and will guide clinical practice.”

Also presented today was the first complete six-month data set of the 130 patients enrolled in the PARTNER EU clinical trial. The data demonstrated strong hemodynamics and valve performance through measurements including effective orifice area and ejection fraction, as well as 100 percent freedom from structural valve deterioration. PARTNER EU was designed to evaluate the Edwards SAPIEN valve in a setting where, for the first time, an interventional cardiologist and cardiac surgeon partnered to screen and determine the correct treatment approach for each patient. The study was conducted in Europe from April 2007 through January 2008, and provided valuable lessons about patient selection that were incorporated into SOURCE and the PARTNER Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Trial.

“We are very proud of the robust clinical results presented today at EuroPCR, and the rigorous scientific approach we have taken in the study of this transcatheter valve,” said Michael A. Mussallem, Edwards’ chairman and CEO. “In particular, the 30-day results for the initial commercial experience with the Edwards SAPIEN valve validate the effectiveness of the valve and its two delivery options, as well as the strength of the physician partnership approach.”

Representatives from Edwards are at Booth #F02 at EuroPCR 2009 through May 22. Simulators in the EuroPCR 2009 Training Village will provide an opportunity for a virtual procedural experience with the Edwards SAPIEN valve delivered via the RetroFlex 3 transfemoral and Ascendra transapical delivery systems.

The Edwards SAPIEN valve is approved for commercial sale in Europe. In the United States, it is an investigational device being studied as part of the PARTNER Trial, the world’s only randomized controlled clinical trial of a transcatheter aortic heart valve.

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, with more than five decades of experience in partnering with clinicians to develop life-saving innovations. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Edwards treats advanced cardiovascular disease with its market-leading heart valve therapies, and critical care and vascular technologies, which are sold in approximately 100 countries. The company’s global brands include Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Edwards SAPIEN, FloTrac, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz. Additional company information can be found at http://www.edwards.com.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the timing and progress of clinical studies relating to the company’s transcatheter valve technologies and the market opportunity for transcatheter technologies. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements are detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Edwards and RetroFlex 3 are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation; Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, Ascendra, Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Edwards SAPIEN, FloTrac, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna, RetroFlex, and Swan-Ganz are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.